Ending addiction is one of the most challenging things a person can put themselves through. Addiction can have a tight hold on a person that seems unbreakable. However, anyone who believes in their own ability to conquer addiction can take control of their lives and beat their addiction problems. You can end your addiction by focusing on positive, meaningful things to do with your time, such as focusing on a vocation, taking up a hobby, following a personal dream or offering a service.
When you take up a hobby, you restore joy to your life. It could be a brand new hobby or one that your addiction got in the way of. Many people have activities they enjoyed immensely until they became addicted, then the activity goes by the wayside. Now is your opportunity to bring your hobbies and passions back into your life. This may include travel, puzzles, gardening, art or a variety of other enjoyable activities.
Offering a service can be a very meaningful way of spending your time. Many people who have battled addiction claim that being of service to someone or something was what saved them from addiction. They felt it was a type of atonement for the selfish state they lived in during their addiction and are happy for the opportunity to reverse their selfishness. Some services a person may want to lend themselves to are feeding the homeless, helping people with disabilities, volunteering with children or animals and helping with disaster relief.
Addiction has a way of preventing a person from following through with their personal dreams and goals. Everyone has a bucket list of items they want to do in their lives before they die, and these things are of great meaning to them. With the addiction monkey off of your back, you are free to pursue these dreams with the energy and fervor of a person who has been given a second chance at life.
And lastly, focusing on a vocation, such as schooling or a career path, is very rewarding for many recovering addicts. The careers and vocations we pursue are a reflection of our truest purposes. Though an addict is distracted from their truest purposes, a recovering addict knows how important it is to take one’s purpose seriously and occupy your time with something truly meaningful.